i89o 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
867 
to creep up to the window and look in upon that happy 
household which he could have blighted with one word ? 
Henry could not have told. He found himself close to the 
window, leaning on his stake, looking at the little group 
inside. 
The room was as neat as wax. An old-fashioned, air¬ 
tight stove stood at one side, running its black pipe up 
through the ceiling, with an old-time mantel-piece behind 
it. A small, round table, bearing a white cloth and a 
lamp was drawn up near the stove. On one side of it, in a 
high-backed rocking-chair, sat a dear little old lady, whose 
white hair just peeped from under her snowy cap. A 
Bible lay in her lap. She had evidently been reading it 
aloud; now she was rubbing her glasses. On the other 
side of the table sat a little old man, with his head bowed 
on his hand as though in deep thought. His head was 
very bald, and he had pushed his spectacles up so that they 
rested on the center of the bald spot. There was a sad, 
patient expression on his face, and a very wistful look in 
his eyes, as he sat there thinking. Just back from the 
table, a little in the shadow, sat a younger woman at her 
sewing. Her face was pale and worn, and there was a 
pinched look at her mouth; yet all the pinches seemed to 
fade out as sh'e bravely smiled at the old lady in the 
rocking-chair. 
A nd Henry saw all this through the window. Do you 
think he realized what one blow from his stake would 
mean for that group ? At last the old gentleman seemed 
to rouse up from his reverie. He rose stiffly from his chair 
and shuffled in his loose, leather slippers to the mantel¬ 
piece. After some fumbling there he found what he 
wanted—a tuning-fork. Seated in his chair again he 
struck the fork on his knee and held it to his ear, until the 
pitch seemed to satisfy him. Then, leaning back in his 
chair, he began to sing in a thin, quavering voice, while 
the two women joined in with him : 
Where la my wandering boy to night 
The child of my tend’rest care. 
The boy that was once my Joy and light 
The child of my love an 1 prayer. 
Where is my boy to night, 
O where Is my boy to-night. 
My heart o’brflows, for I love him, he knows. 
O where Is my boy to-night? 
Henry listened outside still leaning on his stake. The 
fierce look had left his eyes; they were shining now with 
a strange moisture. 
O could I see you now, my boy. 
As fair as In olden time, 
When prattle and smile made home a joy 
And life was a merry chime. 
Henry still listened, but louder and shriller than the 
singing rose the sound of Jim Benson whistling merrily 
up the lonely road. Henry started back from the window. 
There was still ample time for him to reach the bushes and 
strike Jim down. There was a horrible tumult in his 
heart. “ Do it ! Do It! ” shrieked a thousand devils in his 
ears.—“ Would you see her starve? ” only one clear, quiet 
voice seemed to ask in answer—“ Can you bear her eternal 
scorn ?” 
From the singers inside the little house came the words: 
Go for my wandering boy t6-nlght: 
Go search for him where you will. 
But bring him to me with all his blight 
And tell him I love him still. 
With a wild sob, Henry threw his stake as far as he 
could throw it, and rushed blindly into the forest, holding 
his hands to his ears to shut out the horrible voices that 
taunted and stung him. Jim Benson heard him rush 
through the bushes. 
“Some fox or wolf I guess,” he said to himself, “ I’ll be 
after him to-morrow.” 
And Jim passed on with his Christmas presents in his 
hand, knocked at the door and walked in before the song 
was really finished. 
Henry rushed through the snow till he realized that Jim 
was safe in the house. Then he came slowly back to the 
fallen tree. His eyes glittered desperately again. He had 
failed and Grace must be turned out into the street. As 
he put his foot on the tree he heard George shouting to him 
from the river. 
“ Henry ! Henry 1 Stop I Don’t do it I ” In a short time 
George appeared below and breathlessly climbed up the 
tree. 
“You havn’t done it, have you Henry ? ” George’s voice 
trembled as he asked. 
Henry shook his head gloomily. 
“ Thank God 1 Jake had a letter to night that he forgot 
to give us. It’s from Bill and it had $30 in it.” 
Henry gave a great gasp of relief. 
“And that isn’t all. Cobb’s mill will start up day after 
to-morrow and he wants you to run his engine.” 
“ Let’s go home to Grace ” said Henry huskily—and they 
went. 
Is not this a model Christmas murder? 
I am an old reader of The Rural New-Yorker and it 
gives me satisfaction to be able to say that its pages afFord 
me pleasure and profit. If the tariff were to raise along 
the border a barrier as high as the Eiffel Tower, The 
R. N.-Y. would still have to cross the line to T. H. 
Goderich, Ontario, Can. 
The members of my family are better and better pleased 
every year with The R. N.-Y. We cannot care for a paper 
like many others, four-fifths of which are filled with ad¬ 
vertisements most of which are humbugs, while an over¬ 
mastering desire for the “almighty dollar” is thinly dis¬ 
guised in the rest of their columns. o. C b. 
Mendota, Ill. 
What will The Rural become if it continues to improve 
for 20 years as it has for a year or two past ? It will have 
to slow up or it will be out of sight of all competitors. 
Lewis County, N. Y. C. s. R. 
Publisher s Desk. 
The Top of the Year Is Reached. 
AT CHRISTMAS TIME. 
When all mankind, big and little, turn their thoughts 
to making happy moments for their fellows, then, indeed, 
has come the “ top of the year.” At this season we come 
nearer to the millennial spirit than at any other in the 
twelvemonth, not only because the spirit of giving is 
uppermost now, but by reason of the natural turning of 
many men’s thoughts toward the wonderful cause of this 
world-wide agitation. It is well to give and give freely at 
Christmas time, to make merry and get all the happiness 
obtainable out of this bit from the millennium; but in 
our giving let us give wisely. Let us be practical and 
economical, or else our sweet giving will turn to sour 
memories. Economy and good sense are entirely in accord 
with true giving. They are a necessary part of it. 
Isn’t this so ? _ 
A LITTLE BUSINESS. 
Even after a little chat about Christmas, the publisher 
may be pardoned for referring to business. It is his busi¬ 
ness to make this column a business column, and to rouse 
the reader to the point of taking an active part in the work 
of opening people’s eyes to the great merit of the editors’ 
work in the other pages of The Rural New-Yorker. 
* * * 
Queer— Isn’t it ?—what a lot of work, what an infinity 
of hammering, and driving, and pushing, and promising, 
and paying is required to stir up any great number of 
people to participate in any truly worthy undertaking ? 
A poor story paper will sell a hundred-fold more easily, 
even at a higher price, than a first-class farm paper. Ap¬ 
parently people prefer humbuggery to honest work. 
* * * 
But we rejoice that the readers of The Rural New- 
Yorker are of a class who appreciate honest, intelligent 
work, and especially that they stand heartily by the edi¬ 
tors and publisher and join hands with them vigor¬ 
ously in promoting agriculture and right living on the 
farm, by helping to extend our subscription list among 
their friends and neighbors. 
* * * 
For example, during October they worked so energeti¬ 
cally that we added about 300 per cent more yearly 
subscriptions to our list than during October, 1SS9. And in 
November, just closed, the yearly subscriptions were 
321 per cent in excess of the number received during 
November, 1889. Of trial subscriptions the November 
record remains about the same as during October, that is, 
about 200 per cent in advance of that for Novem¬ 
ber, 1889. We submit that this is good proof of our state¬ 
ment, if any be needed, that our readers are working with 
us, and that recent improvements in The Rural New- 
Yorker meet with the hearty approval of its readers. 
Such evidence Is of far more weight at the Publisher’s 
Desk than “good words” by the ton, though the latter 
are always welcome and highly encouraging. 
OUR RARE SEED DISTRIBUTION. 
We expected to be able to give a detailed account in this 
issue of the new seeds and plants to be distributed a'tnong 
our subscribers. But we have been disappointed in some 
kinds which we shall be obliged to hold over until next 
fall in order to get a supply large enough to go around; 
for example, an improved Dutch Case-Knife Bean bearing 
6 to 10 seeds in a pod, and a hybrid cucumber that the late 
Peter Henderson pronounced the “ best ” he had ever 
tested, and a seedling ricinus with variegated foliage. 
But we are sure of having enough of the Rural Thor¬ 
oughbred F lint Corn .described on another page of this issue. 
Of the Long Keeping Tomato, too, there will be an ample 
supply. Of the several other things we will speak in an 
early issue. Among them we hope to announce a new grape, 
which promises to be one of the best varieties sent out in 
many years. And then—but we will not anticipate. Those 
who have received the many new things from the Rural 
Grounds in the past, know well that among our future selec¬ 
tions will be some of substantial value to our subscribers. 
THAT “CONFIDENTIAL LETTER.” 
What Our Old Subscribers Think Of It. 
SAMPLES OF MANY OPINIONS. 
I feel, in common with all subscribers, that we owe it 
to The Rural, to ourselves and our neighbors to do what 
we can to extend The Rural family as much as possible, 
knowing full well that there are many who would be 
pleased as well as benefited when they became interested, 
and looked for The Rural’s weekly visits as we do in our 
home. I cheerfully accept your proposition and will get 
what subscriptions I can, and forward them as soon as 
possible. Wife and I, who are full partners (only the 
“ better half ” is the “ senior ” member,) have been talking 
of this work for some time—W m. J. Slade, Fulton Co. 
N. Y. 
* * * 
I SHALL endeavor to get you at least 10 new subscrip¬ 
tions.—L. C. Clark, Secretary Grange 202, Mich. 
* * * 
Find inclosed $— for three new subscriptions as per 
special offer. I shall order The American Garden later. 
—W. B. Smith, Essex Co., N. Y. 
* * * 
Notice received. I herewith remit for three new names. 
May send a few more in a short time.—C has. B. Hess, 
Centre Co., Pa. 
* * * 
Letter received. Hope the time is not limited. [Good 
for a year.— Pub ] I send 13 subscriptions.— J. J. MICHAEL, 
Wyoming Co., Pa. 
* * * 
INCLOSED find draft on a N. Y. bank for $— for 10 sub¬ 
scriptions.— W. E. & F. W. Leonard —Smith Co., Va. 
* * * 
Inclosed is a check for $— for three subscriptions, in¬ 
cluding that of yours truly.— D. C. Lewis, Cranbury, N.J. 
* * * 
And so they come, these being samples of many. It is 
particularly encouraging that these responses are so 
prompt, coming by very early mails after the sending out 
of the “ Confidential letter.” 
,By the time this is read, each of our 
regular subscribers should have received 
a copy of Tiie American G-arden. The price of 
a single number is 20 cents; three months on trial, 
25 cents; one year, $2 ; in club with The Rural 
New-Yorker, $3. We shall be glad to hear from 
our friendly cHtics xvhat they think of the 
magazine. _ 
NOTE AND COMMENT. 
The Rural New-Yorker advertises that it will give 
away seeds or plants of important new varieties the com¬ 
ing season. While The Rural has done much good, is it 
quite certain that its “ exposures ” are wholly disinter¬ 
ested ? Is not the tendency of its criticisms to injure the 
mail trade of the most reliable houses ?—American 
Florist. 
We would be glad to hear from our readers as to the 
point of this criticism. Does the exposure of humbug 
“novelties” retard their buying from reliable houses of 
known reputation ? 
The Rural New-Yorker is the paper I want. I saved 
$150 this fall on my small wheat crop by reading its Crop 
and Market Department.— Edward Anderson, Pike Co., 
III. 
THE LIGHT OF NEW DAYS. 
We—wife and I—have been more than pleased with our 
Pittsburgh lamps. At first we only half believed the 
claims of the manufacturers. We did not know that 
any kerosene light could be so 
beautifully soft and strong—a 
powerful light without glare or 
flicker, easy and delightful for 
tired eyes. Now we are convinced 
and heartily indorse all the 
claims so far tested. The lamp 
itself is a thing of beauty. Here is 
a picture of one of the pair we use. 
They are finished in silver, em¬ 
bossed and highly ornamental. 
The “ Pittsburgh ” is a prom¬ 
inent feature of our Premium 
List and we would be glad to send 
one to every home in the great 
Rural family, and we have ar¬ 
ranged to furnish our subscribers 
with any of these lamps at special 
rates. The silver lamp above 
figured, complete, with a year’s subscription, for $5; in 
brass, ditto, at $4. Retail prices for the lamps above are 
considerably higher. For other styles see special circular, 
which will be sent on application. 
A GOOD FARM PAPER AT LOW COST. 
The best of all the semi monthly farm papers is un¬ 
doubtedly the Farm and Fireside of Springfield, Ohio. 
It claims the enormous circulation of 350,000 copies, which 
is ample evidence of its popularity. Its publishers, ad¬ 
dressed as above, will send free samples to any of our 
readers. Its price is only 50 cents a year. We club it with 
The Rural New-Yorker at $2.25 for both. Or, when 
clubs of five or more want the combination, it will be put 
in at $1.75 for the two. 
